The Hindu : Sport : Photo exhibition on Australian cricketing greats

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 19, 2006

Sport

Sport - Sports : General

Photo exhibition on Australian cricketing greats

Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI: From the aboriginal cricket team of 1868, the masterly drive of Victor Trumper, the elegance of great Don Bradman to Australia's World Cup triumphs in the recent years. It has been captured by various photographers over the years, and put on display at the Australian High Commission here.

The photo exhibition, celebrating Australian cricketing greats spanning over a century, was inaugurated here on Friday. Among those present were former India captain Bishan Singh Bedi, former Test opener Chetan Chauhan and current left-arm spinner Murali Kartik.

The images that provided historical snapshots of Australian cricketers had Bedi remarking "why can't we too celebrate in this fashion."

"Look at these pictures. They are all about the players. There are no administrators around," he added. Having met many of them, Bedi took a nostalgic trip and came up with many interesting anecdotes involving Bradman, Keith Miller, Alan Davidson, Ray Lindwall, Richie Benaud and Arthur Morris.

The first image is of the aboriginal cricket team that played 47 matches winning 14, losing 14 and drawing 19. Another fascinating picture is of the 1878 Australian cricket team.

The image of William Joseph O'Reilly, better known as Billy O'Reilly, had Bedi speaking about the leg-break googly bowler. In 27 Tests O'Reilly took 144 wickets at an average of 22.59. "He was a terror in his days and once he was made to bowl at the then 17-year-old Bradman. The batsman wore just one pad that had O'Reilly doubting the youngster's potential. At the end of the day, he was convinced. Bradman was batting on 275," Bedi recalled.

The exhibition was got up to celebrate Australia and India's most enduring sporting fascinations and will form a permanent display at the Australian High Commission's chancery here.

St. Columba's posts win

St. Columba's beat SBV Vivek Vihar 2-0 in the boys' under-16 section of the Delhi Yamuna Sports Complex Members Forum prize money inter-school badminton tournament, which began at the Yamuna Sports Complex, Surajmal Vihar, on Friday.

Other results: Boys (under-16): SAV (Ludlow Castle) No. 1 bt Salwan Public School (Mayur Vihar) 2-0; Arvachin bt St. Mary's School 2-0; Greenfields (Safdarjang Enclave) bt St. Joseph's Academy 2-1.

Girls (under-16): Ramjas Day Boarding bt Salwan Public School (Mayur Vihar) 2-0; Mater Dei School bt St. Mary's School 2-0.

Saeed triumphs

Mohammed Saeed of Magic Mind Club defeated Mohammed Nasir of Delhi Audit 25-20, 25-14 in the final of the Delhi State carrom championship at the NDMC Community Hall, Babar Road, here.

The results (final): Mohammed Saeed bt Mohammed Nasir 25-20, 25-14; Third place: J. Zahid bt S. Bhatnagar 25-0, 25-0; Semifinals: M. Saeed bt Sanjeev Bhatnagar 25-2, 25-10; M. Nasir bt J. Zahid 25-24, 25-20.